Wednesday, November 11, 2009

An Armistice Day Thought, or Two

Yes, I know the calendar says "Veterans Day," in the contemporary illiterate fashion. The living -- who vote -- easily appropriate the glory of the dead, who don't.

But anyway: the last veterans whose activity, no matter how well-intended, actually had the effect of making Americans any more free, were the veterans of the American Revolution (and arguably, to some extent, those of the War of 1812). After that, not. If you're killing foreigners, or training to kill foreigners, or fixing Hummers so that others can kill foreigners, on my behalf: please stop. I didn't ask you to do it.

And if you won't stop, please don't expect me to thank you.

2 comments:

Mimi said...

Thank you for this thoughtful post, Jim. I feel most sorrowful about the promotion of veterans and the active military in our schools. What chance is there for peace when children are taught to glorify hired killers? I wonder if they're ever reminded that little children like themselves are so often slaughtered in the name of "democracy" or "progress" or "keeping America safe."

Anonymous said...

Aw, c'mon, Jim. Where's your sense of patriotism, your love of country? Before you know it, people will be saying you're not a "real" American.